The Order of 

The Founders and Patriots 

of America 



CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS AND 
GENERAL REGULATIONS OF THE ORDER. 




PUBLISHED BY THE 
GENERAL COURT OF THE ORDER 

November, 1906 



Gift 
Publisher 



Constitution of 

The Order of the Founders 

and Patriots of America 



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"D ECOGNIZING Almighty God as guiding our ancestors to 
this land, to establish, through their descendants, not a 
colony, but an independent sovereign Christian nation, destined 
by Him to occupy a commanding place among the nations of the 
earth and to protect and defend Liberty in all the Western 
Hemisphere; and, recognizing that the foundations of the nation 
were laid, in the perils and hardships of the first half century, 
by our ancestor settlers of that period, rather than in the years 
that followed; and, recognizing that, necessary to the end for 
which our ancestors came, was a patriot progeny, in the time of 
the Revolutionary struggle, out of which our country came to 
be independent and our nation came into being^— for ourselves, 
and those who may associate with us, we have formed an associ- 
ation, founded on Descent from such ancestry and their patriot 
descendants. 

ARTICLE I. 

NAME. 

The name of this Association is " The Order of the Founders 
and Patriots of America. 



ARTICLE II. 

OBJECTS. 

The objects of the Order are : 

1. To bring together and associate men whose ancestors 
struggled together for life and liberty, home and happiness, in 
this land, when it was a new and unknown country, and whose 
line of descent from them comes through patriots who sustained 
the colonies in the struggle for independence in the Revolution- 
ary War. 

2. To teach reverent regard for the names and history, 
character and perseverance, deeds and heroism, of the founders 
of this country and their patriot descendants. 

3. To inculcate patriotism in the Associates and their de- 
scendants. 

4. To discover, collect and preserve records, documents, 
manuscripts, monuments and history relating to the first colon- 
ists, their ancestors and descendants. 

5. To commemorate and celebrate events in the history of 
the colonies and the republic. 

6. Other historical and patriotic purposes. 

ARTICLE III. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The order shall consist of : 

1. A General Court, to be known as " The General Court 
of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America." 

2. A Society in each State, District or Territory of the 
United States, and in such foreign States and Countries as the 
General Court may authorize, each of which, prefixed with the 
name of the political division in which located, is to be known as 

"The" Society of the Order of the Founders and 

Patriots of America." 

ARTICLE IV. 

GENERAL COURT. 

Section i. The General Court shall consist of the Founders 
of the Order ; also all past General Officers, also all General 
Officers, Councillors General, and Officers of the several Societies 
of the Order, during their respective terms of office ; provided, 
however, that no person shall be a member of the General Court 
unless he shall be at the time an Associate in good standing in 
one of the Societies of the Order. 

Sec. 2. The Officers of the General Court shall be a Gov- 



ernor General, a Deputy Governor General, a Chaplain General, 
a Secretary General, a Treasurer General, an Attorney General, 
a Registrar General, a Genealogist General, and an Historian 
General, each to hold office for one year, or until his successor is 
elected and installed. There shall also be nine Councillors General 
three of whom shall be elected each year, each Councillor Gen- 
eral to hold office for three years, or until his successor is elected 
and installed. The Officers and Councillors shall constitute the 
Council General. They shall be elected at the annual meeting, 
by ballot. No Officer of the General Court shall be elected to 
the same office for more than two successive terms, except by a 
unanimous vote. 

Sec 3. The annual meeting of the General Court shall be held 
on the 13th day of May in each year, or at such other time, as 
near as may be thereafter, as the Council General may determine. 
The General Court may hold such other meetings as it may de- 
termine by rule, order or resolution, or as may be called by the 
Governor General. The Governor General shall call meetings 
on request of nine members of the General Court. The annual 
meeting of the General Court shall be held in the City of New 
York except that in any odd-numbered year it may be held else- 
where, provided the Governor General shall fix another place 
therefor and shall make an order to that effect. (As amended 
May 14, 1906.) 

Sec. 4. Nine members shall constitute a quorum, at all 
meetings of the General Court. 

Sec. 5. In General Court each member thereof shall have 
one vote, except that, when a vote is taken by Societies, each 
member shall have one vote, and each Society shall have as many 
votes as it has enrolled Associates, in good standing, to be cast 
as a unit, unless any Society shall otherwise direct, and shall so 
certify to the Secretary General, in which case the vote of such 
Society shall be divided as nearly as may be equally among the 
members present from such Society and cast by .them severally. 
One third of the members, present in person at a meeting, may 
demand that any vote be taken by Societies, when the vote shall 
be cast in person. All other votes may be cast in person or by 
proxy. 

Sec. 6. The General Court shall have and exercise the fol- 
lowing powers : 

I. The chief executive, legislative and judicial powers within 
the order, and the general regulation of its affairs. 



2. To entertain, hear and decide all appeals and complaints 
by any Society, or by an Associate, and to regulate the cases in 
which appeals may be taken. 

3. To advise concerning any question arising under the 
Constitution or By Laws of the Order when requested by any 
Society or its Council. 

4. Upon application of any nine Associates of the Order, 
residing in any State, District, Territory or Country in which no 
Society of the Order exists, to constitute them and those whom 
they may admit, pursuant to the Constitution and By-Laws of 
the Order, into a Society of the Order for the political division 
in which they reside, and to fix a time and place for the first 
meeting, and grant such Society a charter. 

5. To issue all diplomas of membership, all insignia and 
rosettes. 

6. To provide, order and direct the form, and on such 
terms as it shall fix, issue to the Societies of the Order stationery 
and blank applications for membership, also circulars or pamph- 
lets setting forth the purposes and objects of the Order, and 
regulate the use thereof. 

7. To require from Societies of the Order such reports, re- 
turns and statistics of Associates, of funds, and of other infor- 
mation, and the payment of assessments, as it may from time to 
time order, 

8. To revoke or suspend the charter of any Society, for 
failure to obey the requirements of the Constitution or By-Laws 
of the Order, or for nonuser of its rights and privileges, and in 
case of revoking the charter of any Society, to assign its mem- 
bers; or any of them to other Societies of the Order, according 
to their preference if asked and expressed, who shall thereupon 
become members of the Society to which assigned in the same 
standing as in the Society whose charter shall be revoked. (As 
amended May 13, 1903.) 

Section 7. No liability shall be incurred, or an appropri- 
ation of money made or authorized, except by a two-third ma- 
jority of votes cast in the General Court, such vote to be cast in 
person or by proxy, or by a two-third majority of votes in the 
Council General, but such vote in the Council General must also 
be approved by at least two Councillors General. (As amended 
May 14, 1906.) 



Sec. 8. The expenses of the General Court shall be pro- 
vided for by the sale of diplomas, insignia and rosettes, and by 
pro rata assessments upon each of the Societies according to its 
respective number of Associates. The General Court or Council 
General may enforce payment of said assessments, by the revoca- 
tion or suspension of the charter of any Society refusing or neg- 
lecting to pay the same, and such Society shall thereupon be de- 
barred from representation in the General Court, but, upon pay- 
ment, may be reinstated. 

Sec. 9. The headquarters of the Order shall be in the city 
of New York. 

ARTICLE V. 

SOCIETIES OF THE ORDER. 

Section i. Each Society hereafter organized shall hold its 
membership in the Order by virtue of a charter from the Gen- 
eral Court. After the receipt of its charter, the Society shall 
forthwith adopt a Seal, which shall not be changed, except by a 
two-thirds majority of the Associates present at an annual 
meeting. Any Society may be incorporated under the laws of 
its own State, District, Territory or Country, if a majority of its 
Associates present at an annual meeting shall elect to do so. 

Sec. 2. The Officers of each Society shall be a Governor, 
a Deputy Governor, a Chaplain, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a 
State Attorney, a Registrar, a Genealogist and an Historian, 
each to hold office for one year, or until his successor is elected 
and installed. There shall also be nine Councillors, each Coun- 
cillor to hold office for three years, or until his successor is 
elected and installed, provided, however, that the Society shall 
divide the Councillors first chosen into three classes, one class to 
serve one year, one two years, and one three years, or until their 
successors are elected and installed. The Officers and Council- 
lors shall constitute the Council. They shall be elected at the 
annual meeting, by ballot. No Officer of any Bociety shall be 
elected to the same office for more than two successive terms, 
except by a unanimous vote. 

Sec 3. Each Society shall hold an annual meeting at such 
time and place, before the month of May, as its Council shall 
determine. Each Society may hold such other meetings as the 
Society or its Council may direct, or as may be called by its 
Governor. 



Sec. 4. Nine Associates shall constitute a quorum, at all 
meetings of the Society. 

Sec. 5. At meetings of the Society, each Associate shall 
have one vote. Associates may vote by proxy at any meeting, 
if the Society shall so determine, or the laws of the State, Dis- 
trict, Territory or Country so provide. 

Sec. 6. Each Society may regulate its own affairs, subject 
to the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Order, 

Sec. 7. Each Society may organize Chapters, to consist of 
not less than nine Associates, and grant charters thereto; and 
may revoke or suspend any such charter, for the failure of any 
Chapter to obey the requirements of the Constitution or By- 
Laws of the Order, or for non-user of its rights and privileges. 

Sec, 8. Each Society may provide for the suspension, or 
dropping from the rolls, after reasonable notice and an oppor- 
tunity to be heard, of any Associate in arrears for dues, after 
they shall be due and payable for one year, but, upon payment, 
he may be reinstated by the Council. Any Associate, suspended 
or dropped from the rolls for non-payment of dues, shall not 
hold office in the Order, or sit in the General Court, during such 
suspension or unless reinstated. 

Sec 9. No Society of the Order shall have the power to 
incur any debt or enter into any continuing obligation, except 
on its own behalf, and not on behalf of the Order, nor on behalf 
of the General Court. No debts shall be incurred, or money be 
appropriated, or any action be taken affecting property, without 
the consent of at least three of the Councillors. No liability 
shall be incurred, or appropriation made, exceeding fifty dollars, 
except by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in the Society 
or its Council, such vote to be cast in person. 

Sec. 10. Each Society shall forthwith determine the loca- 
tion of its headquarters, which shall not thereafter be changed, 
except by a two-thirds majority of the Associates present at an 
annual meeting. 

ARTICLE VI. 

FOUNDERS OF THE ORDER. 

Those persons, nine in number, who, on the i6th day of 
March, 1896, subscribed the Certificate of Incorporation of the 
New York Society, and formed the Order, are hereby recognized 
as founders of the Order. 



ARTICLE VII. 

MEMBERS OF THE ORDER. 

Section i. All members of the Order shall be active mem- 
bers of a Society of the Order, except as hereinafter provided, 
and shall be called "Associates." 

Sec. 2, Any man of the age of twenty-one years, of good 
moral character and reputation, and a citizen of the United 
States, who is lineally descended, in the male line of either 
parent, from an ancestor who settled in any of the Colonies now 
included in the United States of America prior to May 13, 1657, 
and one or all of whose intermediate ancestors, in the same line, 
who lived in the period of the Revolution, from 1775 to 1783, 
adhered as patriots to the cause of the Colonies, shall be eligible 
to membership in the Order, except as hereinafter provided. 

Sec. 3. The male descendants of any Associate, being of 
good moral character and reputation and citizens of the United 
States, shall also be eligible to membership, provided that the 
claims of each such descendant shall be traced anew from the 
qualifying ancestors from whom the first Associate was eligible. 
(As amended May 13, 1902). 

Sec. 4. No person shall be admitted an Associate of the 
Order without previous investigation into and ascertainment 
of his qualifications for membership. Each Society may pro- 
vide for the manner of such investigation and ascertainment, 
and of the mode of election of its Associates, subject to the 
Constitution and By-Laws of the Order, and may reject any 
applicant who may not be acceptable to it. 

Sec. 5. Any person who shall have obtained membership 
by intentional misrepresentation or concealment, as to his qual- 
ification for membership, or who shall be guilty of any violation 
of the Constitution or By-Laws of the Order, or who shall be 
guilty of conduct unbecoming a patriot or a good citizen, after 
due inquiry and hearing, shall be expelled from membership in 
the Order. Any person who shall have obtained membership by 
or through an innocent but material misstatement or non-state- 
ment, shall, after due inquiry and hearing, be dropped from 
membership in the Order. 

Any person who shall have obtained membership as the de- 
scendant of an Associate of the Order, shall, after due inquiry 
and hearing, be dropped from membership in case it shall ap- 
pear that the Associate of the Order from whom he descended 
was not qualified for membership. (As amended May 13, 1902.) 



Sec. 6. Each Associate shall pay an initiation fee and one 
year's dues, and sign the Constitution and By-Laws of the Order, 
either in person or by proxy, within three months after notice of 
election to membership. If he shall fail to comply with these 
conditions within the time specified, without sufficient reason 
being given, his election shall be void. 

Sec. 7. An Associate of one Society of the Order may be 
transferred to another Society, upon his written request, under 
such regulations as the Society of which he is an Associate, and 
that to which he seeks transfer, may prescribe. 

Sec. 8, Membership in two or more Societies, by the same 
person, may be authorized and regulated by the several Soci- 
eties. All persons must first become Associates of a Society, if 
any, in the State, District, Territory or Country within whose 
jurisdiction they reside, and must retain such membership in 
their State Society so long as they remain residents of such 
State, to be eligible to membership in any other State Society. 
(As amended May 14, 1906). 

Sec. 9. The General Court may by a three-fourths vote 
elect to honorary membership such Associates as shall have 
rendered distinguished service to the country or to the Order. 
Honorary members shall be exempt from the payment of dues. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

INSIGNIA, ETC. 

Section i. The Insignia of the Order shall be a badge of 
gold, as follows : 

Obverse — Upon a radiated star or, a cross enamelled gules; 
thereon the effigy of an officer, in Continental uniform, sur- 
mounted by that of Captain Miles Standish, habited in morion 
and breastplate; both effigies within a chaplet of oak and laurel 
leaves, all or. 

Reverse — Upon a radiated star or, a star of thirteen points, 
enamelled azure ; in its centre, the arms of the United States, in 
relief, within a white circle, inscribed "Steadfast for God and 
Country," all or. 

A gold swivel ring, pendant from a larger gold ring, shall 
suspend the badge from a ribbon. 

The Ribbon of the Order shall be of watered silk, one and 
three-quarter inches in width, the colors of which, reading from 
dexter to sinister, shall be azure, argent, sable, argent and gules. 

8 



The Rosette, or Button, of the Order, shall be one half inch 
in diameter, of watered silk ; in its centre, a cross, gules, upon 
a white field ; on its edge, or rim, the colors azure, argent, sable, 
gules, argent and sable. 

The Flag of the Order shall be the Flag of the United States 
of America, as regulated by Act of Congress. 

The Standard of the Order shall be a field, argent, sur- 
mounted by a cross, gules; on a canton, azure, a constellation 
of thirteen stars of the first. 

The Seal of the Order shall be two and one-half inches in 
diameter, as follows: 

Upon a shield, or, a Continental soldier, at attention, habited 
proper, surrounded by a constellation of thirteen stars, azure ; 
upon the centre of the chief, a ship of the Seventeeth Century, 
under full sail, proper; above the shield, the dates 1607-1657; 
beneath the shield, the date 1776; the whole surrounded by an 
annulet, gules, inscribed " The.Order of the Founders and Patriots 
of America;" in exergue, 1896; the edge, beaded; the field, or. 

Sec. 2. The membership Diploma, Insignia, Ribbon and 
Rosette, or Button, shall only be issued from and by authority 
of the General Court, under such regulations as it from time 
to time may prescibe, and may from time to time be changed, 
but only by the General Court at an annual meeting and by a two- 
thirds majority of all the votes cast, the vote being taken by 
Societies, provided the change has been proposed by one Society 
of the Order, and notice thereof given by it to the Secretary 
General, and to the Secretary of each other Society of the 
Order, at least one month before the annual meeting of the 
General Court. The same notice and vote shall be necessary, 
to change the Seal or Standard of the Order. 

ARTICLE IX. 

AMENDMENTS. 

This Constitution may only be amended at an annual 
meeting of the General Court, by a two thirds majority, of all 
the votes cast, the vote being taken by Societies; provided the 
amendment has been proposed by one Society of the Order, and 
notice thereof given by it to the Secretary General, and to the 
Secretary of each other Society of the Order, at least one month 
before the annual meeting of the General Court. 



By-Laws of the Order. 



ARTICLE I. 

OFFICERS OF GENERAL COURT. 

Section i. The Governor General shall be the official 
head of the Order, and shall perform such duties as pertain to 
that office. He shall preside at all meetings of the General 
Court and the Council General. He shall appoint all commit- 
tees unless otherwise ordered by the General Court or Council 
General. 

Sec. 2. The Deputy Governor General, in the absence of the 
Governor General, shall perform his duties and exercise his 
powers. In the absence of the Governor General and Deputy 
Governor General from a meeting, a chairman pro tem. shall be 
chosen to preside. 

Sec. 3. The Chaplain General shall perform such religious 
services as may be called for by the General Court or the 
Council General. 

Sec. 4. The Secretary General shall keep the minutes of 
all meetings of the General Court and Council General, and 
shall have charge of the Constitution, By-Laws, Seal and 
General Records of the General Court and Council General. 
He shall give due notice to each member of the General Court 
of its meetings, and to the members of the Council General of 
their, meetings. He shall conduct the general correspondence 
of the Order under the direction of the Governor General, keep 
a record of all checks countersigned by him, and perform such 
other duties as may be required of him by the General Court, 
or by the Council General. All the books, records and papers 
kept by him, or in his charge officially, shall be the property of 
the Order. He shall make a report in writing at the annual 
meeting of the General Court, and at such other times as the 
General Court or the Council General may direct. 

Sec. 5. The Treasurer General shall collect and receive all 
funds belonging to the General Court, and deposit the same to 
the credit of the Order, in such manner as the General Court or 



10 



Council General may direct. He shall give such bond as may 
be required by the Council General. He shall pay out money 
only as the General Court or Council General shall order, by 
check, signed by him and countersigned by the Secretary 
General. He shall make a full and classified report, in writing, 
of money received and paid out, at the annual meeting of the 
General Court, and at such other times as the General Court or 
Council Ceneral may direct. He shall keep full and accurate 
accounts in books, to be the property of the Order, which shall 
always be open to the inspection of any officer of the General 
Court. 

Sec. 6. The Attorney General shall be the law adviser of the 
General Court. He shall have charge of and supervise the pro- 
ceedings relating to the formation of Societies of the Order. 

Sec. 7. The Registrar General shall have the custody of all 
duplicate applications for membership, shall examine the same, 
approve or disapprove thereof, and advise the Registrar of the 
Society, from which they come, of such approval or disapproval, 
within one month after their submission to him, and the reason 
therefor when disapproved, which approval or disapproval shall 
be manifested before the admission of an Associate, subject to 
appeal to the General Court, which appeal shall be submitted to 
the Genealogist General, for examination and report, by the 
Registrar of the Society concerned therein. The Registrar 
General shall give a number in the Order to each Associate, in 
the order of the notification of the elections. He shall keep a 
roll of all associates of the Order, the Society to which each be- 
longs, the residence of each, and his number in the Order. He 
shall make a report in writing at the annual meeting of the 
General Court, and at such other times as the General Court or 
the Council General may direct, and perform such other duties 
as the General Court or the Council General may require. 

Sec. 8. The Genealogist General shall examine and report 
to the Council General upon all appeals from- the decision or 
want of action of the Registrar General, which shall be sub- 
mitted to him for that purpose, within one month after their 
submission to him, and shall at the same time advise the Regis- 
trar of the Society, from whom he received such appeal, of the 
result of his examination. 

Sec. 9. The Historian General shall have the custody of 
all documents and papers relating to the geneaology and 
history of the first colonists, their ancestors and descendants, 

II 



which may be in the possession of or loaned to the General 
Court, which shall be subject to the use and control of the Gen- 
eral Court, or Council General, and shall, when necessary, be 
subject to the inspection of the Genealogist General. He shall 
make report in writing, at the annual meeting of the General 
Court, and at such other times as the General Court or the 
Council General may direct. He shall perform such other duties 
as the General Court or the Council General may require. 

Sec. io. The Council General shall exercise the powers of 
the General Court, when the General Court is not in session. 
Five of its members shall constitute a quorum of the Council 
General. Meetings of the Council General may be called by the 
Governor General, or, at the request of five of its members, 
must be called by the Secretary General. The Council General 
may, by rule, order or resolution, provide for its own meetings. 
The Council General may remove from office any Officer or 
Councilor of the General Court, for any violation of the Consti- 
tution or By-Laws of the Order, or for conduct unbecoming a 
patriot or a good citizen, but only after an opportunity to be 
heard, and, pending the inquiry, it may suspend the person so 
charged and delegate his duties to another Associate. 

Sec. II. In case any person, elected as an Officer or Coun- 
cillor of the General Court, shall fail to file with the Secretary 
General, within one month after notice by mail of his election, 
an acceptance in writing, the Council General shall appoint an 
Associate to fill the position until the next annual meeting of 
the General Court. The Council General shall fill all vacancies 
in the General Court, until the next annual meeting of the Gen- 
eral Court. Any officer or Councillor of the General Court may 
resign, by mailing his resignation to the Secretary General. 

\ ARTICLE II. 

OFFICERS OF SOCIETIES. 

Section i. The Governor shall preside at all meetings of 
his Society, and of its Council, and perform such duties as 
usually pertain to a presiding officer, or as the Society or its 
Council may require. He shall appoint all committees, unless 
otherwise ordered by his Society or its Council. 

Sec 2. The Deputy Governor, in the absence of the Gov- 
ernor, shall perform his duties and exercise his powers. In the 
absence of the Governor and Deputy Governor from a meeting, 
a chairman pro tem. shall be chosen to preside. 

12 



Sec. 3. The Chaplain shall perform such religious services 
as may be called for by his Society or its Council. 

Sec. 4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meet- 
ings of his Society and its Council, and shall have charge of the 
Charter, By-Laws, Certificate of Incorporation, Seal and Rec- 
ords of his Society and its Council. He shall keep a roll of 
Associates of his Society, and a mailing address book for the 
post office address of Associates. He shall give due notice to 
each Associate of his Society of its meetings, and to the mem- 
bers of the Council of their meetings. He shall keep a book, 
containing the Constitution and By-Laws of the Order and the 
By-Laws of his Society, to be signed by all Associates of his 
Society. He shall conduct the general correspondence of his 
Society, under the direction of its Governor, keep a record of all 
checks countersigned by him, and perform such other duties as 
may be required of him by his Society or its Council. All the 
books, records and papers kept by him, or in his charge officially, 
shall be the property of the Society. He shall make a report in 
writing at the annual meeting of his Society, and at such other 
times as the Society or its Council may direct, and a copy of 
such report and copies of all printed papers shall be sent at once 
to the Secretary General for the information of the General 
Court. 

Sec. 5, The Treasurer shall collect and receive all funds 
belonging to his Society, and deposit the same to its credit, in 
such manner as his Society or its Council may direct. He shall 
give such bond as may be required by the Council. He shall 
pay out money only as his Society or its Council shall order 
by check, signed by him and countersigned by the Secretary. 
He shall notify all Associates of their election, and collect their 
fees and dues. He shall notify the Council, and also the Secre- 
tary, of all Associates in arrears for six months, also of the 
failure of a person elected to membership to pay his fee and dues 
within three months. He shall make a full and classified report, 
in writing, of money received and paid out, at the annual meet- 
ing of his Society, and at such other times as the Society or its 
Council may direct. He shall keep full and accurate accounts 
in books, to be the property of the Society, which shall always 
be open to the inspection of any officer of the Society. 

Sec. 6. The State Attorney shall be the law adviser of his 
Society, and perform such other duties as the Society or its 
Council may require. 

13 



Sec. 7. The Registrar shall have the custody of all blank 
applications for membership, and shall issue the same as required 
or provided by his Council. He shall receive the duplicate 
applications for membership, and examine, approve, or disap- 
prove thereof, and certify them in order and report thereon, to 
the Society or its Council, for approval. Before or after such 
report, he may require of the applicant for membership correc- 
tion of his papers or further proofs. Upon the approval by the 
Society or its Council of any applicant, the Registrar shall 
endorse upon the duplicate applications the date of the approval, 
and forward one duplicate to the Registrar General, and retain 
for the Society the other duplicate, causing the same, if the ap- 
licant is elected as an Associate, to be bound into books as the 
Council may direct. He shall notify the Secretary and Treas- 
urer, and also the Registrar General, of each Associate elected, 
and of his residence, place of business and post-office address, 
and of the date of election. He shall retain all such historical 
information as shall accompany applications for membership, 
and on request of the Historian General or Historian, shall 
furnish copies thereof. He shall perform such other duties as 
his Society or its Council may require. He shall report in 
writing, at the annual meeting of his Society, and at such other 
times as the Society or its Council may direct. 

Sec. 8. The Genealogist shall examine and report to his 
Council upon all appeals from the decision or failure to act on 
the part of the Registrar, which shall be submitted to him, for 
that purpose, by the Council. 

Sec. 9. The Historian shall have the custody of all docu- 
ments and papers relating to the Genealogy and history of the 
first colonists, their ancestors and descendants, which may be in 
the possession of or loaned to his Society or its Council, which 
shall be subject to the use and control of the Society or its 
Council, and shall, when necessary, be subject to the inspection 
of the Geneaologist. He shall also edit and publish such books, 
documents and papers as the Society or its Council may direct. 
He shall act as Necrologist. In case of the death of any mem- 
ber of the General Court, or any past Councillor General, the 
Historian of the Society of which such person was an Associate 
shall furnish to the Historian General such necrological infor- 
mation as may be in his possession. He shall make a report in 
writing, at the annual meeting of the Society, and at such other 
times as the Society or its Council may direct, and a copy of 

14 



such report and copies of all printed papers shall be sent at once 
to the Historian General for the information of the General 
Court. 

Sec. io. The Council of each Society of the Order shall 
exercise the powers of the Society, when the Society is not in 
session. Five of its members shall constitute a quorum of the 
Council. Meetings of the Council may be called by the Gov- 
ernor of the Society, or, at the request of five of its members, 
must be called by the Secretary. The Council may, by rule, 
order or resolution, provide for its own meetings. The Council 
may remove from office any Officer or Councillor, for any viola- 
tion of the Constitution or By-Laws of the Order, or for conduct 
unbecoming a patriot, or a good citizen, but only after an oppor- 
tunity to be heard, and, pending the inquiry, it may suspend the 
person so charged and delegate his duties to another Associate. 

Sec. II. Each Society may provide for other Officers, and 
for a Deputy or Assistant to an Officer of the Society, but no 
such Officer shall thereby become a member of the General 
Court, nor of the Council of his Society, but shall have only 
such other powers and perform such duties as his Society shall 
provide. 

Sec. 12. In case any person, elected as an Officer or Coun- 
cillor of a Society, shall fail to file with its Secretary, within one 
month after notice by mail of his election, an acceptance in 
writing, the Council shall appoint an Associate to fill the posi- 
tion until the next annual meeting of the Society. The Council 
shall fill all vacancies in its numbers, until the next annual 
meeting of the Society. Any Officer or Councillor may resign, 
by mailing his resignation to the secretary of his Society. 

ARTICLE in. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section i. Every applicant for membership must apply in 
writing and in duplicate to a Society in the State, District, Ter- 
ritory or Country within whose jurisdiction he resides, unless 
such Society shall waive its jurisdiction. (As amended May 14, 
1906). If no Society exists therein, the applicant may apply to 
any Society. The applicant must state his age, residence, 
occupation, place of business, his post-office address, and such 
information as the Society or General Court may direct, or 
such as may be required by the Constitution or By-Laws of the 

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Order. He must be recommended by two Associates and the 
application must be presented to the Council of the Society, and 
shall be accompanied by such historical information concerning 
his ancestors as the Society or its Council may request. The 
application shall be examined as the By-Laws of the particular 
Society shall require, in order to ascertain the qualifications of 
the applicant, and shall be reported, approved or disapproved, to 
the Society or its Council for election. Such election must be 
by ballot, and one negative ballot in every five cast, or five nega- 
tive ballots in all, shall reject the applicant, and he cannot again 
apply for membership within one year thereafter, nor to any 
other Society than that in which rejected, without its consent. 
Prior to the election of any Associate, one of the duplicates of 
the application papers shall be forwarded to and approved or 
disapproved by the Registrar General, subject to appeal to the 
General Court. If such appeal be decided against him, he can- 
not again apply for membership in the Order, within one year 
thereafter. After the election of an Associate, and payment by 
him of the initiation fee and one year's dues, and his signing the 
Constitution, in person or by proxy, he shall then become an 
Associate. Every Associate shall retain his membership in any 
Society to which admitted, until such connection is severed by 
resignation, transfer, suspension, dropping from the rolls or 
expulsion. 

Sec. 2. Any Associate in good standing, not in arrears or 
otherwise indebted to any Society or to the Order, may resign 
his membership in the Order, by written notice to the Secretary 
of any Society in which he is enrolled. 

Sec. 3. Any person, or Associate of more than one Society, 
may. resign his membership in any Society, in the same manner 
and on the same terms as he may resign his membership in the 

Order. 

Sec. 4. Each Society may provide for and regulate the 
suspension or expulsion of its associates, subject to an appeal 
to the General Court. 

ARTICLE IV. 

FUNDS. 

Section i. The initiation fee shall be five dollars. Each 
Society shall fix the amount of its annual dues, not exceeding 
five dollars, payable in advance; provided that the dues, paid 

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by an Associate elected within three months before the annual 
meeting of liis Society, shall be in full of annual dues for the 
current year following such annual meeting. Associates shall 
pay dues to the several Societies in which they are enrolled. 
Each Society may provide for resident and non-resident members, 
and fix the dues for each class of members, its non-resident 
membership to consist of all Associates residing more than a 
certain distance, which each Society may determine for itself, 
from its headquarters. 

Sec. 2. Any resident Associate may commute his an- 
nual dues by paying, at any time, a sum equal to ten years' 
annual dues, and shall thereupon become a life member, and 
shall thereafter be exempt from the payment of dues to the 
Society in which he shall have so commuted his dues. 

ARTICLE V. 

NOTICES. 

All notices, required by the constitution or By-Laws of the 
Order, or the By-Laws of any Society, shall be mailed to the 
person to be notified, to the address he shall have furnished 
with his application papers, or afterwards to the Secretary of 
his Society, or to the Secretary General. The number of days' 
notice, which shall be deemed a due notice, shall be determined, 
for the General Court or Council General, by resolution, and, 
for any Society, or its Council, by the By-Laws of the Society. 

ARTICLE VL 

AMENDMENTS. 

These By-Laws may be amended at any annual meeting of 
the General Court, by a two thirds majority of all the votes cast, 
the vote being taken by Societies. 



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General Regulations of the Order. 

(Adopted May 14, 1900.) 



The General Court and the Council General shall meet 
whenever called by the Governor General. 

II. 

The roll of the General Court and of the Council General 
shall be made up from the records of the General Court and the 
returns of the several Societies of the Order, but the title of any 
member may be investigated as the General Court may direct. 

III. 

Every officer of the General Court shall orally, if present, 
and also in writing to be filed with the Secretary General, make 
pledge to support and maintain the Constitution, By-Laws, 
Rules, and Regulations of the Order of the Founders and 
Patriots of America, and to discharge the duties of the office to 
which he is elected or qualified to the best of his ability. 

IV. 

1. Committees shall be permanent. Standing or Special. 
A Permanent Committee is one so designated by the General 
Court, and continues in being until expressly discharged. A 
Standing Committee is one annually appointed, and continues 
in being until the next following annual meeting of the General 
Court. Every other Committee is a Special Committee and is 
discharged by the acceptance of its report, unless expressly 
continued by the body appointing it. 

2. The Council General appoints only its own Committees. 

3. The Standing Committees of the General Court are: 
(i) On installation to consist of five members, who shall 

conduct all installations, and to whom shall be referred by the 
Secretary General for their approval, all written pledges of 
Officers of the General Court. 

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(2) On Finance, to consist of three members, to whom 
shall be referred the returns from all the Societies and their 
Officers, as to numbers of their associates and their finances, 
and to report from time to time, a budget of the probable expenses 
of the General Court and of its Officers, and the proportion 
thereof to be assessed upon each Society. 

(3) On Nominations, of five members, three of whom shall 
be past Governors General or actual or past Governors, or Dep- 
uty Governors,to nominate to the annual meeting of the General 
Court candidates for all the offices of the General Court 

(4) On Audit, of three members, who shall have power to 
examine, audit and authorize payment by the Treasurer General 
of all accounts and claims against the General Court which shall 
have been authorized by it or for which appropriation shall have 
been made ; and after each annual meeting until such Com- 
mittee shall be appointed the Governor General, Deputy Gen- 
eral, and Secretary Generaf shall act as such Committee. 

4 All Committees of the General Court or of the Council 
General shall be appointed by the Governor General unless the 
body shall otherwise order. 

5. When any Associate ceases to be a member of the Gen- 
eral Court, he shall at the same time cease to be a member of 
any of its Committees. (Adopted May 13, 1902.) 

6. There shall also be a Committee on the Colors consist- 
ing of three members, to have the care and custody of the Flags, 
and see that they are presented at meetings or at formal func- 
tions whenever they should be presented. (As amended May 

13, 1904.) 

V. 

The Insignia of the Order shall be worn by all actual and 
past Governors General and all actual and past Governors, also 
by all actual Officers of the Order, suspended from the Ribbon 
of the Order about the neck of the wearer, and by all other As- 
sociates of the Order fastened upon the left breast of the coat. 

VI. 

The Insignia, Rosette, Ribbon and diploma of the Order 
shall be issued to the Associates by or upon the Order of the 
Registrar General, upon the payment of such fee as the General 
Court shall fix for each thereof. Upon the Insignia shall be en- 
graved the name. State and National number of the member to 
whom issued. Upon each Diploma shall appear in his genuine 

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handwriting the name of the Governor General and Registrar 
General. 

VII. 
At every meeting of the General Court, the presiding officer 
having called the members to order, and they being seated, shall 
announce, " Associates, let us receive the colors," at which all 
the members of the General Court shall rise, face the outer door 
of the room from which the colors shall be borne by two officers 
detailed for that purpose ; the colors shall be carried to the sta- 
tion of the presiding officer and there securely and properly sta- 
tioned and rested, during all of which the members of the Gen- 
eral Court shall remain standing and continue to face the colors 
as they are carried. When the colors shall have been rested, 
and while the members of the General Court remain stand- 
ing, the Chaplain, or in his absence the person to be ap- 
pointed by the presiding officer, shall offer a prayer ; the mem- 
bers shall then be seated. 

VIII. 
The Secretary General is authorized from time to time to 
order such stationery as may be necessary for the General Court 
and its Officers upon the approval of the Attorney General as to 
form. (Adopted May 13, 1901.) 



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